things.
“The perfume. Why should I stop wearing it?”
He shook his head. She would be the end of him. “Because I’m the only husband on the planet who refuses to touch his wife.”
Zach caught the sad understanding on her face before she closed the door. She was already gone before he realized he’d insulted her and made it sound like he didn’t want to touch her.
It was then he knew he was in real trouble.
Chapter 5
At dinner, Deb tried to forget the fact her husband didn’t want her. After all, it was exactly what she had wished for, wasn’t it? She wasn’t sure why, but she wanted to see he was falling apart the same way she was on the inside. Just when she thought they were getting closer, he said or did something hurtful.
He sat next to her, glancing her way as she gulped a mouthful of wine. She cocked an eyebrow at him, daring him to stop her.
Oh so slowly, his fingers trailed up her arm and enclosed around the hand holding the goblet to her lips. Despite the guests sitting around the table, it seemed as though it was just the two of them. Squeezing gently, he pulled the wine away from her lips and brought her hand down to the table. She watched as his thumb trailed over her skin slowly.
Deb yearned to be angry because it felt safer than this. His touch was lethal. She remembered parts of their wedding night. Those hands were capable of wonderful things.
The corner of his mouth lifted so slightly she barely noticed it, but she did see the heat in his eyes. His tongue moistened the full lips she wanted to lean over and kiss.
Somehow, they were back to flirting and doing all the things that made Deb uncomfortable. Anger might be easier, but she couldn’t make herself be mad at him. If he touched her, she would be lost. She knew he wasn’t looking for a long-term relationship, despite his claims to the contrary, which was why the marriage in Vegas was such a farce. If only she could remember a little more from Vegas.
Most men in Hollywood weren’t looking for forever and that was okay. She wasn’t looking for long-term from a man in Hollywood, either. She wanted someone who had never been to Hollywood and someone who didn’t think she slept around just because actress was attached to her name.
“Let’s go back to your room,” he growled next to her. She closed her eyes for second, enjoying his hot breath at her ear.
“Looks like you’ve got another cold shower in your future.”
“Yeah, nobody needs to worry about me using the last of the hot water. There hasn’t been any for me for two days.”
“So I take it you didn’t like my dress?”
“Not unless wanting to rip it off you counts.” He rolled his eyes and turned his attention to her father, who stood for a toast.
“First off, I’m glad each of you could stay for dinner. I want to make a Christmas toast, for all of us to have joy and experience love and new beginnings in the New Year.”
Deb felt Zach’s eyes on her. She raised her glass and ignored him. Acknowledging anything between them was the last thing Deb wanted. She needed some space to think.
After everyone toasted, they delved into their food and conversation fell to a minimum.
“Deb, honey, I meant to tell you all the family will be home this weekend for Christmas. I couldn’t remember if I told you or not. Eric said Jesse and Elizabeth are so excited to see you,” her mother said.
Deb grinned. In front of all these people, almost strangers, she didn’t want to talk about her two nieces’ view of her. Granted, she had tried so hard to make sure they saw her as a regular person, but with her brother’s disability she sometimes wondered if they didn’t see her as Superwoman. She got to do all the things their father didn’t get to very often, like traveling. Eric and Alyson, his wife, tried as well to let them see the normalcy of Deb’s life when she came home.
After Deb’s mother’s declaration, conversation picked up.
“Other than
“The perfume. Why should I stop wearing it?”
He shook his head. She would be the end of him. “Because I’m the only husband on the planet who refuses to touch his wife.”
Zach caught the sad understanding on her face before she closed the door. She was already gone before he realized he’d insulted her and made it sound like he didn’t want to touch her.
It was then he knew he was in real trouble.
Chapter 5
At dinner, Deb tried to forget the fact her husband didn’t want her. After all, it was exactly what she had wished for, wasn’t it? She wasn’t sure why, but she wanted to see he was falling apart the same way she was on the inside. Just when she thought they were getting closer, he said or did something hurtful.
He sat next to her, glancing her way as she gulped a mouthful of wine. She cocked an eyebrow at him, daring him to stop her.
Oh so slowly, his fingers trailed up her arm and enclosed around the hand holding the goblet to her lips. Despite the guests sitting around the table, it seemed as though it was just the two of them. Squeezing gently, he pulled the wine away from her lips and brought her hand down to the table. She watched as his thumb trailed over her skin slowly.
Deb yearned to be angry because it felt safer than this. His touch was lethal. She remembered parts of their wedding night. Those hands were capable of wonderful things.
The corner of his mouth lifted so slightly she barely noticed it, but she did see the heat in his eyes. His tongue moistened the full lips she wanted to lean over and kiss.
Somehow, they were back to flirting and doing all the things that made Deb uncomfortable. Anger might be easier, but she couldn’t make herself be mad at him. If he touched her, she would be lost. She knew he wasn’t looking for a long-term relationship, despite his claims to the contrary, which was why the marriage in Vegas was such a farce. If only she could remember a little more from Vegas.
Most men in Hollywood weren’t looking for forever and that was okay. She wasn’t looking for long-term from a man in Hollywood, either. She wanted someone who had never been to Hollywood and someone who didn’t think she slept around just because actress was attached to her name.
“Let’s go back to your room,” he growled next to her. She closed her eyes for second, enjoying his hot breath at her ear.
“Looks like you’ve got another cold shower in your future.”
“Yeah, nobody needs to worry about me using the last of the hot water. There hasn’t been any for me for two days.”
“So I take it you didn’t like my dress?”
“Not unless wanting to rip it off you counts.” He rolled his eyes and turned his attention to her father, who stood for a toast.
“First off, I’m glad each of you could stay for dinner. I want to make a Christmas toast, for all of us to have joy and experience love and new beginnings in the New Year.”
Deb felt Zach’s eyes on her. She raised her glass and ignored him. Acknowledging anything between them was the last thing Deb wanted. She needed some space to think.
After everyone toasted, they delved into their food and conversation fell to a minimum.
“Deb, honey, I meant to tell you all the family will be home this weekend for Christmas. I couldn’t remember if I told you or not. Eric said Jesse and Elizabeth are so excited to see you,” her mother said.
Deb grinned. In front of all these people, almost strangers, she didn’t want to talk about her two nieces’ view of her. Granted, she had tried so hard to make sure they saw her as a regular person, but with her brother’s disability she sometimes wondered if they didn’t see her as Superwoman. She got to do all the things their father didn’t get to very often, like traveling. Eric and Alyson, his wife, tried as well to let them see the normalcy of Deb’s life when she came home.
After Deb’s mother’s declaration, conversation picked up.
“Other than
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